Morning Outlook

Stocks were mixed in Europe Friday, a day after tumbling following the disappointing jobs data in the U.S. In afternoon trading, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 22.70 points, or 0.5 %, at 4,256.97, while Germany’s DAX fell 8.96 points, or 0.2 %, to 4,709.53. The CAC-40 in France was 3.12 points, or 0.1 %, higher at 3,119.53.

Overnight in Asia, markets were also mixed in their reaction to the economic data out of Wall Street. Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average dropped 60.08 points, or 0.6 %, to 9,816.07, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed up 25.35 points, or 0.1 %, to 18,203.40

U.S. markets are closed today for the Independence Day Holiday (thankfully!) after yesterday’s sharp decline, which will be reviewed later as we are in the midst of the longest decline in equities since March.

Currencies and Commodities

Major currencies were mixed against the greenback Friday. The dollar traded at 95.973 yen, gaining 0.029% in the currency market. European currencies fell for the 2nd straight day against the dollar on fear that interest rate cuts may be n order to revive a worse than expected economic situation. The euro depreciated 0.1305% to $1.3985 while the pound lost 0.4331% to $1.6322. Gold rose $1.10 to $932.10 an ounce, while silver rose 0.09% at $13.42. Light, sweet crude for August delivery fell another 72 cent to $66.01 a barrel: a 1.08% decline.

Economic Calendar

No release of any data on this holiday Friday here in the good ole US of A